Daylight film loader

ABSTRACT

A daylight film loader for inserting X-ray and other photographic film into a film developing apparatus including a stationary base affixed to the film developing apparatus and overlying the film intake opening thereof. The base includes an upwardly extending, peripheral flange for removably receiving the bottom edge of the upper domed portion of the daylight film loader thereon. The domed portion of the film loader includes an enclosure having a substantially flat top and peripherally depending side wall, the said top incorporates a translucent area which is fabricated of acrylic plastic or other material suitable to filter light rays which may expose X-ray and other photographic film. The depending side walls include a pair of spaced openings for insertion of the arms and hands of the operator and the openings are protected against the entrance of light rays by light resistant vinyl sleeves which are respectively affixed thereto. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the side walls of the domed portion and the cooperating base flange are formed to similar cross sectional configuration and cooperate to position the upper member in various angularly rotative positions with respect to the base member.

United States Patent [191 Hope et al.

[ DAYLIGHT FILM LOADER [76] Inventors: Henry F. Hope, 195 Welsh Road, Huntingdon Valley, Pa. 19006; Stephen F. Hope, 2524 Wyandotte Road, Willow Grove, Pa.

[22] Filed: April 26, 1971 21 App]. No.1 144,569

Primary Examiner-John M. Horan Assistant Examiner-Fred L. Braun Attorneyl(arl L. Spivak Jan. 23, 1973 57 ABSTRACT A daylight film loader for inserting X-ray and other photographic film into a film developing apparatus including a stationary base affixed to the film developing apparatus and overlying the film intake opening thereof. The-base includes an upwardly extending, peripheral flange for removably receiving the bottom edge of the upper domed portion of the daylight film loader thereon. The domed portion of the film loader includes an enclosure having a substantially flat top and peripherally depending side wall, the said top incorporates a translucent area which is fabricated of acrylic plastic or other material suitable to filter light rays which may expose X-ray and other photographic film. The depending side walls include a pair of spaced openings for insertion of the arms and hands of the operator and the openings are protected against the entrance of light rays by light resistant vinyl sleeves which are respectively affixed thereto. 1n the preferred embodiment of the invention, the side walls of the domed portion and the cooperating base flange are formed to similar cross sectional configuration and cooperate to position the upper member in various angularly rotative positions with respect to the base member.

8 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PATENTEUJAN 23 I975 SHEET 2 (IF 2 INVE NTORS. HENRY E HOPE STEPHEN E HOPE ATTORNEY.

DAYLIGIIT FILM LOADER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to the field of photographic developing equipment, and more particularly, is directed to a daylight film loader for introducing X-ray and other photographic film into the film intake of automatic film developing equipment without the need for a darkroom.

The use of small, self-contained, automatic film developing equipment has become increasingly more popular for use in developing X-ray and other film on the premises of hospitals, in the offices of doctors and dentists wherein the necessary extensive floor space and large capital expenditures for darkroom facilities are not readily available. The present invention includes a daylight film loader for use in conjunction with such a small automatic film developing equipment and is attached directly to the equipment so that exposed film may be introduced into the film developing areas without the need for darkrooms or other facilities to prevent accidental exposure of the film. The invention is applicable to all automatic photographic processing 1 equipment such as X-ray, graphic arts, commercial film, etc., and the device is useful in any area where it is necessary or desirable to operate film processing equipment exteriorly of the usual darkroom type of installation.

All prior art daylight loading attachments of which we are familiar affix directly to the film developing equipment and include hand openings which are fixed in location. Such prior art daylight loaders mustthen be pre-set at the factory to position the hand openings in a convenient location so that the operator may function the equipment with the-greatest ease. Inasmuch as most such equipment is installed in or near corners or walls, the loaders set for installation in one corner of a room are not suitable for use in another corner or location should the equipment have to be moved. Accordingly, all of the prior art equipment must be specifically designed for the location and must be factory pre-set prior to shipment. Such procedures result in increased costs at the factory and often result in increased costs in handling when it is found that through inadvertance, mistakes have been made and the equipment must be sent back-to the factory for re-alignment prior to installation. Also, after installation at one location, the fixed nature of the loaders of presently available equipment complicates matters when it is desired to relocate the same equipment at another location within the same building.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to the field of automatic X-ray or other film processing equipment, and more particularly is directed to a novel daylight film loader as an attachment to film processing equipment to permit loading of exposed film for developing from any position without the need to employ a darkroom.

The universal daylight film loader of the present invention incorporates a stationary base which affixes directly to the film developing apparatus at the film intake thereof. The base includes an upwardlyextending, peripheral flange for receiving the bottom edges of the sidewalls of the upper domed portion in rotatable, light resistant, engagement therein. The present invention incorporates means to angularly rotate the domed loading portion with respect to the base so that the domed portion may be positioned in any desired angular location.The upwardly extending flange of the base and the depending peripheral edge of the domed portion are formed to the same general cross sectional configuration and dimensions to form a light rejecting, multipositioned, peripheral junction. It will be appreciated that should the upwardly extending flange of the base and the depending edge of the domed portion sidewalls be circularly formed, the domed portion could be rotated with respect to the base while the depending peripheral edge is engaged within the upwardly projecting flange. Preferably, the cooperating depending sidewall peripheral edge and the upwardly extending flange of the base are angularly formed to a regular geometric configuration suchas an octagon or other regular polygon shape such as a square, pentagon or a hexagon. By forming the loading domed portion separate from the stationary base, the angular relationship between the domed portion and the base may be readily changed at the site of installation without the necessity of returning the machine to the factory for daylight loader hand opening position adjustment.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved universal daylight film loader of the type set forth.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a universal daylight film loader including a stationary base and a movable domed portion which affixes to the base in a light-tight, peripheral junction.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a novel universal daylight film loader which incorporates a stationary base affixed to film developing apparatus and a movable film loading domed portion associated with the base and readily removable therefrom, the said domed portion having means to angularly rotate the dome with respect to the base.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a novel universal daylight film loader for loading exposed X-ray or other film into an automatic film developing apparatus which incorporatesa stationary base having a peripheral flange upturned from the plane through the said base and aremovable domed portion having depending sidewalls which terminate in a peripheral depending edge, the said edge cooperating with the said flange to provide a rotatively adjustable, light-tight, peripheral junction.

lt is another object of the present invention to provide a novel universal daylight film loader for introducing exposed x-ray or other film into automatic film developing apparatus without a darkroom and incorporating a stationary base member affixed to the said apparatus, the said base member having an upwardly extending flange about the periphery thereof, said daylight loader also including a removable domed member cooperating with the said base member, said domed member having a peripheral sidewall which terminates downwardly in a peripheral edge for cooperation with the said bottom flange, the said peripheral edge and the bottom flange being formed to identical regular polygon configurations.

,It is another object of the present invention to provide a novel daylight film loader incorporating a stationary base having an upwardly extending, peripheral flange and a removable domed portion which may be angularly rotated with respect to the base flange, the domed portion having sidewalls which terminate downwardly in a peripheral edge for contacting the base flange, the said sidewalls and the said flange being formedto identical octagonal-cross sectional configuration.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a novel universal daylight film loader thatis rugged in construction, inexpensive in manufacture and trouble-free in operation. e

Other objects and a fuller understanding ofthe'invention will be had by referring to the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views and in which:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a perspective view of a universal daylight film loader affixed in position to an automatic film developing apparatus- FIG. 2 is an enlarged, exploded, perspective view of a universal daylight film loader in accordance'with the present invention and partially broken away to expose DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION Although specific terms are used in the following description for the sake of clarity, these terms are inv tended to refer only to the particular structure of our invention selected for illustration in the drawings and arenot intended to define or limit the scope of the invention.

Referring now to FIG. 1, we showa conventional automatic film developing apparatus which incorporates in a single unit the necessary processing tanks, chemical solutions and mechanical apparatus to provide a completely automatic, self-contained device in well-known manner. A daylight film loader 12 positions over the film inlet end 14 to facilitate introducing exposed X-ray and other photographic film into the apparatus film inlet for developing therein in well-known manner. I

As best seen in FIG. 2, the daylight film loader comprises a stationary base 16 and a domed film loader 18 which is rotatable with respect to the base for positioning the arm openings 20, 22 in any convenient rotative location. The stationary base 16 includes a generally peripherally turns upwardly at ninety degrees from the plane of the bottom 24 for removably receiving the domed film loader in a light-tight junction as hereinafter more fully set forth. The flange 28 includes an outer wall 30 and an inner wall 32 of similar height which define a peripheral valley 34 therebetween of generally octagonal configuration. The inner wall and outer wall 32, 30 rise above the plane of the base bottom 24 a s'ufficient distance to provide necessary mechanical rigidity to securely hold the domed film loader 18 in position during all manual operations necessary for loading the film into the apparatus 10.

Additionally, the inner and outer walls 32, 30 define a valley of sufficient depth to absolutely prevent any passage of light through the flanged junction.

horizontally disposed bottom 24 which overfits the apparatus top 26 and is secured in place thereto by utilizing conventional fasteners such as sheet metal screws (not shown). In the embodiment illustrated, the base is formed to a regular octagonal configuration and terminates outwardly in an octagonal flange 28 which A main opening 36 is molded or otherwise provided in the base bottom 24 of sufficient size and of the necessary configuration to register with the apparatus film inlet opening (not shown) to facilitate the insertion of the exposed film into the film developing apparatus 10 for film developing purposes. One edge 38 of the daylight film loader 12 cantilevers over the film inlet end 14 of the film developing apparatus to facilitate waste disposal from within the daylight loader 12. A waste opening 40 positions in the bottom 24 near the in FIG. 2, the domedfilm loader 18 comprises a unitary member which incorporates a generally flat, horizontal top 46 and a peripheral sidewall 48 which depends therefrom. In the embodiment illustrated, the top and sidewalls 46, 48 are formed to a generally octagonal cross sectionalconfiguration as hereinafter more fully set forth. The sidewall-48 terminatesdownwardly in an octagonal bottom edge 50 of size and configuration to match the valley 34 which is formed in the bottom 24 of the base 16 and is'defined between-theinner and outer flange walls 32, 30. The bottom edge 50 positions securely within the valley 34 in amanner to prevent the entrance of light within the interior of the domed film loader 18 through the peripheral junction between the base and the domed film loader..Additionally, the octagonal configuration of both the bottom edge 50 and the valley 34 cooperate to prevent inadvertent rotative movement of the domed film loader 18 with respect to the stationary base 16.

Preferably, the octagonal cross-sectional configuration of the base 16 and the domed film loader 18 are regularly formed, that is, each of the eight segments 52, 54 respectively comprising the octagonal configuration of the base and domed film loader are equal so that the domed film loader 18 is universally acceptable in any rotative position within the valley 34 of the stationary base 16. Thus, the domed film loader 18 may be positioned upon the base in any angularly rotative position simply by aligning the respective domed sidewall segments 52 within the bottom flange segments 54. By angularly rotating the domed film loader 18 relative to the stationary base 16, the respective arm openings 20, 22 can then be angularly positioned with respect to the apparatus in any of eight convenient, angularly offset locations simply by pulling the domed film loader 18 upwardly until the sidewall bottom edge 50 lifts clear from the base flange 28 and then rotating the domed film loader 18 with respect to the base 16 until the desired arm opening location is reached. The domed film loader 18 is then lowered until the sidewall bottom edge 50 securely seats within the valley 34 to secure the daylight film loader in the desired position.

The film loader top 46 is molded or otherwise formed to provide a peripheral flange 56 which inwardly projects from the peripheral top edge 58 and steps down therefrom to provide a ledge for carrying a translucent panel 60. The translucent panel 60 covers the entire top opening 46 for viewing purposes and installs flush with the peripheral top edge 58. The translucent panel 60 may be fabricated of any rigid, translucent material having qualities suitable to filter light rays which may expose X-ray or other photographic film. One such material which has proved suitable for the purpose is acrylic plastic sheeting No. 2444 manufactured by the Rohm and Haas Company, Philadelphia, Pa., under the trademark (Plexiglas).

As illustrated in FIG. 1, arm openings 20, 22 communicate with the respective extending nozzles 62, 64 which are equipped with light-proof, vinyl sleeves 66, 68 in well known manner to prevent passage of light into the interior of the domed film loader 18 through the arm openings 20, 22. In this manner, the arms of the operator, (not shown) may be inserted into the interior of the daylight film loader 12 for film loading purposes by inserting the left and right arms respectively through the vinyl sleeves 66, 68 and then through the loader nozzles 62, 64. In this manner, the device may be readily used without the entrance of any light whatsoever into the interior of the film loader 12. The translucent panel 60 enables the operator to observe and control the movement of his hands as may be required for film developing apparatus operation purposes.

As modifications of the preferred embodiment, the base 16 and the domed film loader 18 may be formed to any number of corresponding sides in the form a regular polygon shape such as square, pentagon, hexagon, etc. Additionally, the base and loader l6, 18, may be formed to a circular cross-sectional configuration to thereby permit circular rotation of the loader 18 within the base valley 34 without separating the parts. Such arrangements permit the angular rotative movement of the upper domed film loader 18 with respect to the stationary base so that the arm openings 20, 22 may be positioned in any desired location regardless of the where the film developing apparatus 10 itself is located. Thus, the apparatus 10 may initially be located against one wall and the openings 20, 22 can then be positioned away from the wall for easy access by the operator. Should the apparatus 10 be relocated after the original installation, the access openings 20, 22 may be conveniently positioned with respect to another wall (not shown) simply by lifting the domed film loader 18 from the stationary base 16 and then rotating the film loader 18 with respect to the base to a convenient angular location for film loading operations. The domed film loader 18 then repositions upon the base by inserting the bottom edge into the valley 34 in the new angular position.

The outer wall 30 of the stationary base 16 is provided with a plurality of peripherally spaced bosses 70 which are each drilled or otherwise treated to provide an opening 72 to threadedly receive the set screws 74 therein in well-known manner. The plurality of set screws 74 horizontally urge against the bottom of the domed film loader 18 at peripherally spaced locations to thereby further secure the upper film loader 18 to 'the stationary base 16. The set screws serve to prevent inadvertent separation during period of use. The arm openings 20, 22 preferably position ninety degrees apart for most convenient operation of the film developing apparatus 10. Such angular relation is possible only with domed film loaders 28 which are either circularly formed or which are formed to a square or octagonal configuration. In the event that triangular, pentagonal or hexagonal configuration is desired, the angular relationship between the arm openings 20, 22 would have to be adjusted accordingly.

We claim:

1. in a daylight film loader associated at the film inlet of an automatic film developing apparatus, the combination of:

A. a stationary base affixed to the film developing apparatus,

1. said base being provided with a bottom in contact with the film developing apparatus,

2. said base terminating outwardly in peripheral flange means,

a. said flange means rising from the said bottom of the base to form a light-proof junction means; and

B. a domed film loader removably attachable to the said base, 1. said domed film loader including a top and sidewalls peripherally depending therefrom,

a. said top including translucent means,

1. said translucent means preventing the passage of film exposing light rays,

said sidewalls terminating downwardly in a peripheral bottom edge,

. the cross sectional configuration of the bottom edge corresponding in size and shape to the cross sectional configuration of the said flange means,

. said bottom edge being removably insertable into the said flange means,

. said domed film loader being rotatable with respect to the said base,

3. at least two of said sidewalls being provided with angularly spaced light protected arm openings,

. the said arm openings being rotatable to a plurality of positions relative to the stationary base when the domed film loader is rotated with respect to the base.

2. The invention of claim 1 wherein the peripheral bottom edge of the domed film loader and the peripheral flange means of the stationary base are formed to identical, cooperating, circular, cross sectional configuration.

3. The invention of claim 1 wherein the said peripheral bottom edge of the domed film loader and the flange means of the stationary base are formed to identical, cooperating, regular polygon configuration.

4. The invention of claim 3 wherein the polygon configuration is octagonal.

5. The invention of claim 1 wherein a portion of the stationary base cantilevers over the film inlet end of the film developing apparatus to provide a waste disposal section.

6. The invention of claim 5 wherein the waste disposal section is provided with an opening through the said base bottom, said opening terminating the daylight film loader. 

1. In a daylight film loader associated at the film inlet of an automatic film developing apparatus, the combination of: A. a stationary base affixed to the film developing apparatus,
 1. said base being provided with a bottom in contact with the film developing apparatus,
 2. said base terminating outwardly in peripheral flange means, a. said flange means rising from the said bottom of the basE to form a light-proof junction means; and B. a domed film loader removably attachable to the said base,
 1. said domed film loader including a top and sidewalls peripherally depending therefrom, a. said top including translucent means,
 1. said translucent means preventing the passage of film exposing light rays,
 2. said sidewalls terminating downwardly in a peripheral bottom edge, a. the cross sectional configuration of the bottom edge corresponding in size and shape to the cross sectional configuration of the said flange means, b. said bottom edge being removably insertable into the said flange means, c. said domed film loader being rotatable with respect to the said base,
 3. at least two of said sidewalls being provided with angularly spaced light protected arm openings, a. the said arm openings being rotatable to a plurality of positions relative to the stationary base when the domed film loader is rotated with respect to the base.
 2. said sidewalls terminating downwardly in a peripheral bottom edge, a. the cross sectional configuration of the bottom edge corresponding in size and shape to the cross sectional configuration of the said flange means, b. said bottom edge being removably insertable into the said flange means, c. said domed film loader being rotatable with respect to the said base,
 2. said base terminating outwardly in peripheral flange means, a. said flange means rising from the said bottom of the basE to form a light-proof junction means; and B. a domed film loader removably attachable to the said base,
 2. The invention of claim 1 wherein the peripheral bottom edge of the domed film loader and the peripheral flange means of the stationary base are formed to identical, cooperating, circular, cross sectional configuration.
 3. at least two of said sidewalls being provided with angularly spaced light protected arm openings, a. the said arm openings being rotatable to a plurality of positions relative to the stationary base when the domed film loader is rotated with respect to the base.
 3. The invention of claim 1 wherein the said peripheral bottom edge of the domed film loader and the flange means of the stationary base are formed to identical, cooperating, regular polygon configuration.
 4. The invention of claim 3 wherein the polygon configuration is octagonal.
 5. The invention of claim 1 wherein a portion of the stationary base cantilevers over the film inlet end of the film developing apparatus to provide a waste disposal section.
 6. The invention of claim 5 wherein the waste disposal section is provided with an opening through the said base bottom, said opening terminating downwardly in a nozzle and having a light-proof sleeve affixed to the nozzle to prevent the entrance of light into the interior of the daylight film loader.
 7. The invention of claim 1 wherein the said arm openings are at an angular relationship of 90*.
 8. The invention of claim 1 wherein the said domed film loader terminates upwardly in an inwardly projecting flange, the said translucent means seating upon the inwardly projecting flange in a manner to prevent the entrance of film exposing light rays into the interior of the daylight film loader. 